Top 10 T20 'mercenaries' in world cricket

The term ‘mercenary’ in cricket refers to the players who rely on oppourtunities around the world after missing on opportunities in their respective international teams.There are also a few others who are deemed unfit for the international class and are sidelined to playing T20 tournaments worldwide. Some might have been banned owing to disciplinary reasons or rift with the boards. Some have even taken a voluntary backward step and happily spending their time with family earning enough within a short period of time.These players are so much important for their respective teams owing to their immense level of experience in the format. Who are those players? Let us see the top T20 ‘mercenaries’ in the world:

#10 Shaun Tait

The Australian quick is happy playing T20 cricket citing fitness concerns owing to his high pace. The rigours of longer formats has taken a toll on his body and is a busy T20 campaigner since retiring from ODI's in 2011 at the age of 28.

With a slingy round-arm action, he operates at a high pace. Has an effective yorker up his sleeve which helps his case to continue as a T20 specialist.

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#9 Luke Wright

The 29-year-old English batsman do have a handful of international caps to his name, but, still is largely a second choice player for his side. His personal best of 153* is one among the only five 150+ innings in the format.

Not just a one-season wonder and has around 4500 T20 runs to show for his talent. Can contribute as an all-rounder if required. His medium pace has fetched him 79 wickets.

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#8 Albie Morkel

The hard hitting Protean should consider himself unlucky to find his carrier concide with the great Jacques Kallis. Being a lower order batsman, he rarely gets to bat for longer durations, but, still capable of producing that crucial innings with his short stay at the crease.

An attacking medium pacer can clock in the high 130s and is a reknowned T20 expert across the world. The 33-year-old has close to 3500 runs and 200+ wickets that underline his importance as an all-rounder.

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#7 David Hussey

The seasoned campaigner was not able to hold on to his place in the national side as a result of tough competition for places. Despite with almost 14000 first class runs to his name, he did very little to convince the selectors to hold on to him in his brief international career, but, a noteworthy T20 specialist.

A handy off-spinner to go with his middle-order batting, can win matches on his own and is well respected for his T20 skills.

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#6 Dirk Nannes

The fast bowler could even be called as an international mercenary considering his time with Netherlands before his Australia call-up. Being a late starter to take up cricket seriously, he made his first-class debut in his late 20s thus ruling him out of contention for a long international carrer.

The left-arm seamer is one among the top-3 wicket-takers in T20s. The wily pacer will be deadly on his given day and extracts pace and bounce with his back of a length bowling.

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#5 Owais Shah

The Pakistan-born England cricketer is one among those who could not make the long steps into cementing his place for his national side. Nevertheless, he is a handy batsmen to have in the middle order and has won matches with the bat on a number of occasions.

The 35-year-old played a couple of match winning knocks for the Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2012. Despite having more than 5000 T20 runs to his name, his IPL career was eventually a failure, just like his international stint.

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#4 Alfonso Thomas

The South African medium pacer is the second highest wicket-taker in T20s behind Lasith Malinga. His 500+ first class wickets contributed very little to his international future as he only has a single international appearance (T20) to his name.

The 37-year-old seamer thus became the most skillful T20 bowler a team can look for and has played in almost all T20 competitions in the world.

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#3 Brad Hodge

The middle order batsman from Australia is only the second ever to cross 6000 T20 runs and is a reliability in the shortest format. Not many can give that assurance and stability Hodge brings into the team, and is a proven match winner.

The 39-year-old can finish matches single handedly and also play to the situation of the match. An average of 36 with a strike rate of 130 from 208 innings cannot be just mean stats.

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#2 Kevin Pietersen

The fascinating stroke maker was made the scapegoat by England for their disasterous Ashes campaign Down Under in 2014. The right-handed batsman is one among the crowd favorites in IPL and is having an equally busy schedule playing for various T20 tournaments around the globe compared to his England days.

The South-African born is an impact player and uses unorthodox shots to good effect against both pace and spin to unsettle the bowling plans.

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#1 Chris Gayle

The Jamaican’s continued rift with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has often thrown him into exile in the past, making him the most powerful and deadliest of the merceneries ever. He is one player every T20 team want to sign.

The 34-year-old is capable of destroying any bowling attack and can clear the field with minimal efforts. Standing tall, he gives the bowlers no respect whatsoever and has scored more runs and centuries than anyone else in the shortest format of the game. Currently back into the West Indies setup and is a regular across all three formats.

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